Method of manufacturing spectacle frames from tortoise-shell and similar valuable material



April 1, 1930. E. KAHNE 1,752,953

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SPECTACLE FRQMES FROM TORTOISE SHELL AND SIMILAR VALUABLE MATERIAL Filed April 5, 1929 'by'heat and under pressure.

Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oj rics msr 31mm, or na'rnnnow, ennum, assrenon TO mnnrmm 'rnnonon minus & SCENE, or na'rnnnomcnnmany METHOD or monies-roams 'srnc'raoLE rams rnom 'ron'roxsn-snnnn m SIMILAR VALUAIBLE MATERIAL Application fled April 5, 1929, Seriallio. 352,881, and in Germany November 18, 1927.

My invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturin spectacle frames from tortoise-shell and similar valuable material, and the object of the improvements is to provide a method by means of which spectacle frames can be made from tortoise-shell at low cost, and in .which the loss of material is reduced to a minimum. With this object in view my invention consists in manufacturing the spectacle frame from a blank comprising the bridge part and the rim parts in the form of elongated members made integral with the bridge part, bending the said rim parts into the rims and joining the ends of the rim parts.

For the purpose of explaining the invention my improved method has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1, is an elevation showing a blank from which the spectacle frames are made,

the figure illustrating the first step of the improved manufacture of the frame,

Fig. 2, is an elevation showing the second step of the manufacture, one of the rim p0rtions being bent together and joined at its ends into a rim, and

Fig. 3, is a partial elevation showing the bridge and parts of the rims.

Referrin now to my improved method illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the frame is manufactured from a blank having the form illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprising'the median portion e having a T-shaped cut 7'' and made integral with two long strips e disposed in line with the portions 0 e of the median portion e, the length of the elon ated portions 6', a being na l to the circum erence of the rim to be ro need. I wish it to be understood that ig. 1 is only a diagrammatical view illustrating the principle of the present invention and that I do not limit myself to the form shown in the said figure, the form of the blank largely depending on the desired final shape of the s tacle ame.

From the lank shown in Fi 1 the spectacle frame is formed by ben g the elongated portions e, 6 into circular form and uniting the ends of the elon ated portions y using also the portions 0 forming parts of the median part 6 of the blank for formin the rims the total length of the blank may be reduced by the length of the portions e formed by the Indentation f, and further, the joining of the ends of the rim portions can be easily performed. But I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the form of the blank shown in Fig. 1, and that in some cases the portions 6 are omitted, in which case the outer ends of the elongated portions 6 are joined to the bridge portion 6.

The plate from which the blank shown in Fig. 1 is made can be comparatively thin, the thickness of the plate corresponding to the thickness of the finished frame, because after bending the frame only polishing is needed. Further,"the grooves in which the lenses are mounted within the rims can be cut in the elongated strips e, 6 before bending the same into circular -form, the said grooves bein indicated in Fig. 1 by the dotted line the figure the grooves are provided on the bottom side ofthe blank.

Fig. 2 shows that the member e is transformed into the form of the bridge b merely bending the sameinto the form 0 an arc. In the said figure the left hand rim e e is still in straight form, while the ri ht hand rim has been bent into circular orm, the ends of the elongated part 6 6 being mdicated e When making the ridge 0 only a slight deformation is needed which can be effected while bending the part e in so far as the median part must be disposed angularly of the plane of the rims e as is indicated in Fi 3.

some cases the blank is provided with other projecting ortions such for egrample as e, the part 6 in used for making the hinges for the bows 0% the spectacles.

It is not necessary to make the whole blank shown in Fi 1 from an integral piece. In some cases, or example where a part of the shell is broken, or it is desired to use as far as possible the whole area of the shell a part of one of the shanks o'er the whole shank may be united to the blank byheat and pressure.

My invention is particularly important in the manufacture of. spectaole from valuable material such as tortoise-shell. But

I wish it to be understood that-it is not limited to such manufacture, and that it may be used for making spectacle frames from other material.

5 I claim:

1. The herein described method of manufacturing spectacle frames, which consists in cutting an elongated blank from a plate comprising a bridge portion and the rim portions disposed in a plane, bending the rim portions into circular form and uniting the ends thereof at a point spaced from the bridge portion, and bending the bridge portion into the form of the bridge.

' 2. The herein described method of manufacturing spectacle frames, which consists in cutting an elongated blank from a plate comprising a bridge part and the rim portions disposed in a plane, the bridge portion being provided with a T-shaped indentation, bend- I ing the rim portions and the portions of the bridge portion located in alignment therewith into circular form and uniting the ends thereof, and bending the bridge portion into the form of thebridge.

3. A blank for use in the manufacture of spectacles consisting of a onepiece elongated strip of material having a slot in one side thereof substantially midway of the ends of the strip, said slot being enlarged within and longitudinally of said strip to form a bridge portion andrim portions overlapping said bridge portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. ERNST KAHNE. 

